Serve Me, god!

Paula and Randy White started Without Walls, a church in Tampa, Fl, 18 years ago. It grew to mega-status built around a message that most basically says, “God wants you healthy, wealthy, and happy!” The Whites were not subtle about it. They proclaimed it loud and proud! The upside down theology that says, “Serve ME, god!” (no typo there) sold well and brought in thousands. Then, two years ago, the Whites marriage fell apart. They chose to be ‘happy’ with other partners. Randy’s (Bishop White, his chosen title!) sermons often drifted into stories his trips to bars, his association with formers strippers, and other less than savory subjects. Paula left, church attendance declined, and the mortgage came due! Now, media announcements are that he is gone and she is back as “Pastor.” I only hope the troubled waters of the last two years has brought a deeper grasp of who Jesus Christ is and a theology that is no longer self-centered, but truly focused on the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Disciple, the Bible does teach us that God is a good God and that He leads us to still waters and green pastures! But, He remains God and we remain His servants. We serve His purposes which do not always include sunny skies, smooth highways, and full bank accounts. He calls us to battle with the world, the flesh, and the Devil – to deny Self even when Ego is screaming for soothing. And He promises to “never leave us, never forsake us!” Best of all, He has opened up the door to eternal life to us and we learn that in His Presence, sin and suffering will be banished forever. John’s Revelation, filled with amazing word pictures, includes this promise. "Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service—worshiping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age." (Revelation 22:3-5, The Message) But, perfect rest only comes after we are welcomed into the Eternal Presence of our King. The fullness of the Promise awaits us!

Don’t be misled by prophets of prosperity who rip Old Testament stories out of context and promise you that “God will heal you, fill your bank accounts, and make you happy” if only you learn the right prayers or give enough money! Their messages often include just enough ‘truth’ to sound good, but the focus is misplaced from Christ to ME, the Cross ignored in favor of the Crown. If you want proof their ignorance of the Truth, look at the fruit of their lives. Time and time again, where you find the prosperity message, you find all the other evidences of Self-worship. The Bible lists them: "It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom. " (Galatians 5:19-21, The Message)

My heart’s appeal to you is this: go deep. Love God without reservation. Give Him total access and worship Him for Who He is more than for what you want Him to do! And then, you will live in the fullness of the Spirit. "When we live God’s way… He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." (Galatians 5:22-23, The Message)

No, it’s not ‘Serve Me, god,’ it is “God, I serve You!”
______________

I will come and bow down
At Your feet, Lord Jesus.
In Your presence is fullness
Of joy.
There is nothing,
There is no one
Who compares with You.
I take pleasure
In worshipping You, Lord.

Heaven is Your throne,
And the earth
Is Your footstool.
Jesus, I come to bow down
At Your feet,
O, how I love
Just to worship before You.
In Your presence
My joy is complete.

I Will Come And Bow Down

Nystrom, Martin J.
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